When you crave banana bread, but it’s pumpkin season… you make Pumpkin Banana Bread!
A slice of my Pumpkin Banana Bread has:
– oats instead of white flour
– 160 calories
– just 4g added sugar
– 9g satisfying protein
– 6g filling fiber
For comparison, a typical slice of pumpkin or banana bread at a local coffee shop has no whole grains and about 360 calories, 2g fiber, 6g protein, and 30g sugar! Scary.
PS: I know this recipe is EXTRA tasty because I’ve made it twice in the last 2 weeks!
15 mins prep + 30 mins baking • Servings: 1 loaf (10 slices) Print Recipe
Ingredients
1.5 cups rolled oats
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pie mix)
4 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup unsweetened plant milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vanilla plant protein powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup no-added-sugar dark chocolate chips
oil spray
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Pulse oats in a blender until flour consistency, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mash the banana and stir in pumpkin, eggs, milk, and sugar until smooth.
4. Add blended oats, protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, and stir until well combined.
5. Stir in most of the chocolate chips (save some for the top).
6. Mist loaf pan with oil, pour in batter, and top with remaining chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Nutritional Facts for Pumpkin Banana Bread
1 slice
1 loaf (10 slices)
Daily Value %*
8%
9%
12%
28%
5%
8%
24%
18%
0%
15%
10%
6%
* Daily Value % based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Barbara Watters says
Hi Dawn: This looks yummy. I have steel cut oats, do you think that will work if I blend it super-fine? Also I don’t have bananas (don’t like them) and was planning to use unsweetened applesauce to provide the needed moisture? Whatcha think – will these substitutions work?! thanks!
DJ Blatner, RDN says
Hi Barbara!! I haven’t tried this recipe with applesauce, but 1/2 cup should add some sweetness & moisture similar to one banana. Steel cut are much coarser than rolled oats, and I’m not totally sure you’ll get the same tender pumpkin banana bread texture, but looks like many places on the internet think it may work! If you do try either of these swaps, let me know how it goes! xx
Therese says
Hi Dawn, listening to you on WGN now. If I have oat flour how much should I use instead of the oats?
DJ Blatner, RDN says
I’m so glad you can catch me on WGN radio! You can use the same amount… 1.5 cups oat flour. ENJOY!
Therese says
Hi again – I was pleasantly surprised by this! I say that because I don’t really like the taste of protein powders, this was really good! I used Orgain Vanilla Plant Protein powder, a smaller amount of semi-sweet choc chips to use up what I had on hand, and added a strudel topping of flour brown sugar cinnamon plant butter.
The oat flour worked out fine, will try some toasted walnuts added next time, and would like to try an egg sub.
Now I gotta go make those black bean brownies!
Jane says
Can I use almond milk instead of the plant milk?
DJ Blatner, RDN says
Yes! Unsweetened almond milk is a type of plant milk. ENJOY!
Karen Bollman says
Hi Dawn,
Could I use whole wheat flour instead of oats? If so, what quantity?
DJ Blatner, RDN says
I haven’t made it with whole wheat flour, but it’s likely 1.5 cups of whole wheat flour (loose pack). Let me know how it works! xx
Pajak Gerald says
Being a male trying to make banana pumpkin bread when you say loaf pan what size will this recipe fit 4 x 8 or 5 x 9 thank you
DJ Blatner, RDN says
I love this recipe! I used a 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 loaf pan (1.5 quart) and loved how it turned out. xx ENJOY
Judy says
I know it’s an added benefit but I don’t use protein powder, can I omit it in this recipe?
Love listening to all your healthy ideas on WGN.
DJ Blatner, RDN says
Hey Judy! Thanks for this high vibe, positive message!!! Appreciate you!
I also used to never use protein powder until I found a way to incorporate it into a balanced, primarily whole food diet! I haven’t made this recipe without protein powder.
You can try removing the 1/2 cup of protein power and increasing the oats to 2 cups (and maybe adding a splash of vanilla), but I’m not totally sure that will work. It may end up not sweet enough. If you do try a variation of this recipe, let me know! xx DJB
Dana Eriksson says
Hi Dawn,
I have never used a plant protein powder. Can you please recommend a brand/type for me? Thank you!
DJ Blatner, RDN says
Hey Dana! Brands such as NOW or Garden of Life. Also a couple of people have mentioned they didn’t use the 1/2 cup protein powder and instead increased the oats to 2 cups…and the recipe turned out well. xx
Lisa says
We heard this recipe when you were on with John Williams on WGN 720 in Chicago. I doubled the recipe and made 4 mini loaves. Being on Weight Watchers, I’m very happy that it’s 2 points per slice. Hubby and I were both surprised that we didn’t taste the pumpkin more. We both could taste the Garden of Life protein powder that we bought on your recommendation. I added 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup of sugar free chocolate chips and I used Monk fruit as my sugar. It is very good and very moist! I love knowing that we are snacking on something that our body likes! Thank you and keep Creating!,
Coleen says
Hi Dawn! Is there a substitute for protein powder?
DJ Blatner, RDN says
Hey Coleen. I haven’t made this without protein powder, but I have had a couple of people say they used an extra 1/2 cup of oats instead of the 1/2 cup of protein. If you try that, let me know how it goes! xx DJB